Improved amalgamator for collecting gold and silver



J. A. BERTOLAJ Ore Amalgamator.

PatentedJuly 29, 1862.

Witnesses: v 25 7/ M V lr ventor AN PHOTO-LITHO-CtKX. (OSBORNE PROCESS) UNITED V STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH ALOIDE BERTOLA, OF NEIV YORK, .N. Y.

IMPROVED AMALGAMATOR FOR COLLECTING GOLD AND SILVER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,987, dated July 29, 1562.

parts.

The amalgamators heretofore constructed have in some instances been formed by a circularbasin fitted with a vertical central shaft driven by gearing from above and carrying a double muller to amalgamate precious metal with mercury. This eharacterof machine was objectionable because the mullers, being affixed to the shaft, would not accommodate themselves to the material operated on, and by the constant rotation the mailer and basin would grind and set so closely together that the material operated on would not get beneath the mullers. Adrop of any oily matter in an amalgamator causes great loss of precious metal, and this contingency was apt to arise in consequence of thejournal-boxes and shaft above the amalgamator.

My said invention is an improvement on that for which Letters Patent where granted to me October 20,1857; and it consists in the employment of separate mullers connected to a crossbar by means of links, whereby each muller is drawn along in the basin and is free to accommodate itself to the material operated upon, and by the motion allowed the said muller is prevented from grinding until it fits the basin closely. By this means the amalgamation is much more perfect and rapid than heretofore, and by placing the gearing that drives the vertical shaft below the said basin and forming the said basin so that the same rises up around the central shaft to prevent leakage the amalgamator is much more easily charged and emptied, as there is no obstruction above, and risk of loss by oil or grease is prevented.

In the drawings,a is a main horizontal shaft sustained in hearings on the frame b.

0'0 are bevel-wheels attached to the vertical shaft (1, that passes up through the center of the basin 6, and said basin is formed as a circular trough, as seen in Fig. 2, so that any gold will settle into the center of said trough, and the trough is to contain a charge of precious metal and quicksilver in the presence of water.

ff are my mullers, formed of a sizeand shape to fit loosely in the basin, and each muller has a link, 1", whereby it is connected to the crosshead It on the end of the shaft d. These mullersff are to be formed of cast-iron or other suitable material; but l prefer that an iron case be employed to receive a stone muller, as said stone acts more effectually in reducing and amalgamating the metal than cast-iron.

0 is the opening through which the water and refuse matter are allowed to pass away, and the amalgamated mercury may be removed in any convenient manner.

In consequence of the trough shape given to the basin, the mercury and metallic particles congregate at the lowest point, and hence the operation is much more complete and perfeet, and the mullers as drawn around pass over, mix, and amalgamate the metal and mercury more perfectly than could be done if the mullers were affixed to the vertical shaft d, and there are no parts above the amalgamator requiring grease, and hence all loss from oil'or greasy substances is prevented.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The separate mullers f f, attached by the links i to the cross-head k, by which they are moved, in combination with the basin 6, as and for the purposes specified.

2. The basin 6, formed in the manner specitied, with the curved or trough shaped bottom, and fitted sothat theshaft (1 passes up through the center, as and for the purposes set forth. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature this 9th day of June, 1862.

JPH. ALOIDE BER'IOL A.

Witnesses:

LEMUEL W. SERRELL, THOS. GEO. HAROLD. 

